Legislature look at better defining 'best available science'

Two bills are before the House and Senate asking for best available science when dealing with Critical Areas issues.

House Bill 2207 (Clarifying the best available science requirement): Introduced by Rep. Geoff Simpson on February 23, 2005, to require counties and cities to address on the record the policies and development regulations adopted to protect the functions and values of the critical areas at issue, the relevant sources of best available scientific information included in the decision making, and any nonscientific information
used as a basis for critical area policies and regulations. If a city or county uses policies or regulations outside the range that best available science would support they must confirm whether the approach used is adequately protecting the functions and values of that critical area. Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=35927

Senate Bill 6035 (Regarding growth management decisions): Introduced by Sen. Joyce Mulliken on February 23, 2005, to require cities and counties, when developing critical areas policies and regulations, to address the specific policies and development regulations adopted to protect the functions and values of the critical areas at issue, the relevant sources of best available scientific information in the decision making, and any nonscientific information used as a basis for critical area policies and regulations that depart from recommendations derived from the best available science. Requirements for a county or city departing from science-based recommendations are also listed within the bill.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID